Lock member

ABSTRACT

A lock member having coming-off preventive portions formed on opposite ends of a filament and having a letter “H” shape as a whole, wherein the coming-off preventive members are connected to a filament at locations shifted from central areas of the coming-off preventive members.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a lock member and more particularly to an improvement of a lock member which can widely be used for sticking a tag and a button to a cloth, for binding documents and for attaching a bagged product to a paper board without a need of using metal staples.

[0003] 2. Related Art

[0004] A conventional lock member used for the above purposes is in the form a letter “H” composed of one pair of coming-off preventive portions (rods) and a filament for connecting the generally central areas of the coming-off preventive portions. The width of the filament is dimensioned to be smaller than the thickness thereof. A plurality of such lock members are connected at the coming-off preventive portions by means which can readily be cut off and formed into an assembly. This assembly of the lock members is set to an attachment apparatus.

[0005] The above attachment apparatus is provided with one pair of hollow needles. The individual lock members forming the assembly are fed, one by one, into the pair of hollow needles. In that state, the pair of hollow needles with each lock member inserted therein are pierced into an objective matter. As a piston member passes through the hollow needles, the coming-off preventive portions at the opposite ends of the lock member are delivered to the back side of the objective matter.

[0006] At that time, force (tensile force generated at the time the coming-off preventive portions pass the objective matter) for adhering a wide surface of the filament in the direction of its thickness to the surface of the objective matter acts on the filament and the filament is twisted about 90 degrees. By this, the coming-off preventive portions are locked to the objective matter with their postures orthogonal to the filament. This state is shown, as a conventional lock member, in FIGS. 14 and 15 in which reference 1 denotes a filament, 2, 2, coming-off preventive portions, and 3, an objective matter, respectively. Taking into consideration that load for detaching a tag, a button or the like from the objective matter 3 after the lock member is locked to the objective matter is applied to the lock member, it is effective that the coming-off preventive portions are orthogonal to the filament because in this way, a larger force of resistance can be obtained.

[0007] However, in the conventional lock member, since the coming-off preventive portions are orthogonal to the filament in a locked position, the coming-off preventive portions are often caught by the user's finger or goods therearound, particularly when documents are bound by the lock member instead of staples. Moreover, when pages of documents, etc. are turned over or documents, etc. are folded along the lock member, the coming-off portions in orthogonal posture can be obstacles.

[0008] The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above-mentioned situation and problems inherent in the prior art devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a lock member which can completely take the place of metal-made staples in binding documents, etc. and in which the coming-off preventive portions are orthogonal to the filament in a locked position.

[0010] To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a lock member having coming-off preventive portions formed on opposite ends of a filament and having a letter “H” shape as a whole, wherein the coming-off preventive members are connected to a filament at locations shifted from central areas of the coming-off preventive members. The coming-off preventive portions are connected to the filament at locations from about ⅓ to about ⅖ the length of the coming-off preventive portions and symmetrical with each other. A plurality of the lock members are continuously connected between the coming-off preventive portions thereby forming a runner-less assembly. A width of the filament is dimensioned to be equal to or larger than a thickness thereof. A reinforcement portion disposed at a distal end of the filament is partly cut off.

[0011] Owing to the above-mentioned construction, the filament of the lock member is not twisted during the process of attachment, the restoring force of the coming-off preventive portion is not deteriorated, the coming-off preventive portion becomes, when in the locked position, nearly parallel to the filament, the lock member can bind documents, etc. as in the case of the conventional metal-made staples, the coming-off preventive portion is not caught, turning over operation of pages of the documents etc. are not interfered and folding operation of the documents, etc., is not interfered after the lock member is locked.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an assembly of lock members incorporated with the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a front view showing a unitary lock member

[0014]FIG. 3 is a front view showing a hollow needle with a coming-off preventive portion inserted therein;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a front view showing the hollow needle with the coming-off preventive portion further inserted therein;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a front view showing a deformed state of the coming-off preventive portion;

[0017]FIG. 6 is a front view showing a complete state of the coming-off preventive portion;

[0018]FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the lock member;

[0019]FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state before start of locking operation;

[0020]FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which the hollow needles are already pierced into the objective matter,

[0021]FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the coming-off preventive portions are pushed out to a back side of the objective matter by a piston member;

[0022]FIG. 11 is a front view showing a state after completion of locking operation;

[0023]FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a locked state;

[0024]FIG. 13 is a front view of FIG. 12;

[0025]FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a locked state of a conventional lock member;

[0026]FIG. 15 is a front view of FIG. 14;

[0027]FIG. 16 is a view showing one example of a filament constituting a lock member of the present invention; and

[0028]FIG. 17 is a view showing one example of use of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] One preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 13 and FIGS. 14 and 15. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an assembly of lock members incorporated with the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a unitary lock member, FIG. 3 is a front view showing a hollow needle with a coming-off preventive portion inserted therein, FIG. 4 is a front view showing the hollow needle with the coming-off preventive portion further inserted therein, FIG. 5 is a front view showing a deformed state of the coming-off preventive portion, FIG. 6 is a front view showing a complete state of the coming-off preventive portion, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another example of the lock member, FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state before start of locking operation, FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which the hollow needles are already pierced into the objective matter, FIG. 10 is a front view showing a state in which the coming-off preventive portions are pushed out to a back side of the objective matter by a piston member, FIG. 11 is a front view showing a state after completion of locking operation, FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a locked state, FIG. 13 is a front view of FIG. 12, FIG. 16 is a view showing one example of a filament constituting a lock member of the present invention, and FIG. 17 is a view showing one example of use of the present invention.

[0030] In the above-mentioned Figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a lock member. The lock member 10 is, as a whole, formed from a soft and elastic plastics. The lock member 10 is formed in a letter “H” shape which is comprises of a filament 11 and coming-off preventive portions 12, 12 connected to opposite ends of the filament 11.

[0031] The filament 11 is connected to the coming-off preventive portions 12, 12, at locations shifted from the central areas of the coming-off preventive portions 12, 12, specifically at locations shifted by about ⅓ to about ⅖ the length of each coming-off preventive portion 12. Before use, a plurality of the lock members 10, 10 are continuously adjacent to each other and formed into an assembly by being connected by connector materials 13, 13 which are orthogonal to the filaments 11, 11. This assembly of the lock members 10 are set in an attachment apparatus. In the case where the filaments 11, 11 are provided at basal ends thereof with reinforcement portions 11 c as shown in FIG. 16, the filaments 11, 11 may be originally connected to the central areas of the coming-off preventive portions 12 because the shifting of position can substantially be realized by cutting off the reinforcement portions 11 c.

[0032] The width 11 a of the filament 11, when viewed from the top, is larger than the thickness 11 b thereof when viewed from the front. Each coming-off preventive portion 12 may be formed in a semi-cylindrical configuration, in section, having a flat inner surface. The coming-off preventive portions 12, 12 having such a semi-cylindrical configuration in section are enhanced in adhesion to an objective matter.

[0033] The lock member 10 having the above-mentioned constuction is fed into a hollow needle 14 by a feeding mechanism. One pair of such hollow needles 14 are disposed in opposing relation. A groove for allowing the passage of the filament 11 is formed in opposing inner surface of the hollow needles 14. A release portion of the coming-off preventive portion 12 is formed at an inner side of a distal end of the hollow needle 14.

[0034] The connector materials 13, 13 are designed such that they can readily be cut off by a small amount of load. When the coming-off preventive portions 12, 12 within the hollow needles 14, 14 are pressed by piston members 15, 15 from the top, the lock member 10 acts as a single unit separated from the assembly.

[0035] When the pressing onto the coming-off preventive portions 12, 12 is started by the piston members 15, 15, the coming-off preventive portions 12, 12 are lowered. In accordance with the lowing motion of the coming-off preventive portions 12, 12, the end portion of the filament 11 is bent and brought into an superimposed state within the hollow needle 14. At that time, the friction coefficient is increased due to the superimposed relation and operation becomes heavy. However, since the filament 11 is designed to be thin and the connecting part of the filament is shifted from the central area of the coming-off preventive portion 12 so as to shorten the superimposing distance, resistance to operation at that time and shortening of the resisting time can also be achieved.

[0036] When the piston members 15, 15 are further pushed in, the coming-off preventive portion 12 is released from the friction resistance within the hollow needle 14 and slidingly discharged outside through the releasing portion of the hollow needle 14. At the time of completion of discharge, one end (upper end side in the original state) of the coming-off preventive portion 12 is restrained by the distal end of the hollow needle 14.

[0037] After the coming-off preventive portions 12, 12 are pushed and delivered to the back side of the objective matter 3, the means for pressing the hollow needles 14, 14 and the piston members 15, 15 is released to pull out the hollow needles 14, 14 from the objective matter 3. Then, the coming-off preventive portions 12, 12 are brought into intimate contact with the back surface of the objective matter 3 by restoring force thereof and lock the objective matter 3 with the help of the filament 11. Reference numeral 14a denotes a tapered portion formed on the outer side of the hollow needle 14. Owing to a provision of this tapered portion 14a, the hollow needle 14 can be pulled out from the objective matter 3 only with a small amount of resistance.

[0038] The coming-off preventive portions 12, 12 pushed and delivered to the back surface of the objective matter 3 are restored and intimately contacted with the back surface of the objective matter 3. At the time of restoring the coming-off preventive portions 12, 12, the filament his not twisted because it is designed large in width and small in thickness. The coming-off preventive portions 12, 12 are brought into parallel to the filament 11 and locks the objective matter 3 in that state. Thus, the lock member of this invention can likewise be applied for binding to a folding line of a pamphlet P as shown in FIG. 17.

[0039] The lock member according to the present invention is constructed and functioned in the manner as described hereinbefore. Accordingly, the superimposing distance between the coming-off preventive portion and the filament when the lock member passes through the hollow needle is reduced. This, accompanied with the feature that the filament is designed to be thin, serves to reduce the working resistance. Therefore, the worker can be reduced in fatigue generated during the continuous working operation. Moreover, since the mutual pressing time is short between the coming-off preventive portion and the filament, the coming-off preventive portion can be restored more rapidly and positively. Thus, the objective matter can be locked more firmly to that extent. In addition, since the connecting portion of the filament in the lock member is away from the center, the lock member can easily be formed in a reel-like shape. This makes it possible to form a longer assembly of the lock members. Since the longer assembly of the lock members is set in the attachment apparatus, it becomes possible to make a continuous work.

[0040] Since the coming-off preventive portion is nearly in parallel to the filament when in locked, the turning over operation, and the folding operation of the documents are not disturbed. It never occurs that the user's finger is accidentally caught, either. Also, the lock member of the present invention can be thrown into a shredder, or the like without a need of detachment. If the material is selected from those which can be torn up by fingers, the lock member of the present can be used as a temporary fixing means. If a raw decomposing material is used, the lock member of the present invention can be used as means for packing, growing agricultural products and food, or the like. Thus, the lock member according to the present invention can be applied to a wider range of technical field than the conventional lock members. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A lock member having coming-off preventive portions formed on opposite ends of a filament and having a letter “H” shape as a whole, wherein said coming-off preventive members are connected to a filament at locations shifted from central areas of said coming-off preventive members.
 2. A lock member according to claim 1, wherein said coming-off preventive portions are connected to said filament at locations from about ⅓ to about ⅖ the length of said coming-off preventive portions and symmetrical with each other.
 3. A lock member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of said lock members are continuously connected between said coming-off preventive portions thereby forming a runner-less assembly.
 4. A lock member according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a width of said filament is dimensioned to be equal to or larger than a thickness thereof.
 5. A lock member according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a reinforcement portion disposed at a distal end of said filament is partly cut off. 